11 DIY Christmas Wreaths to be Jolly About

September 7, 2015 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

It’s time to get down to some serious crafting folks. With the kids back in school, the summer winding down, and the fall holidays looming over us closer and closer, we really need to prep for…Christmas! Christmas?! You’re probably thinking I’m out of my mind, but those homemade mantle crafts and DIY garlands aren’t going to make themselves! I started sewing for Christmas about a month ago because I’m still a beginner and I wanted a head start on my homemade tree skirt. Plus, I wanted plenty of crafting time and an organized craft room for all the DIY Christmas decorations I have planned.

The best part of crafting — free sewing patterns, crochet patterns, and knitting — is that you can take a tutorial or a pattern and still be able to make the craft or pattern with your own personal touch. I normally change colors or patterns, but if you’re super creative, you can imagine an entirely other use. Take wreaths, for example and an adorable deco mesh wreath tutorial. That tutorial may be for spring with bright blues and greens, but you could easily adjust it for a red and green DIY Christmas wreath. Everything can be tailored to suit your needs and tastes.

Those cute deco mesh DIY wreaths are really trendy right now. Not sure what they are? They’re the homemade wreaths that look ruffled like an unraveled roll of ribbon. These were all over my sorority hallways with the names of the sisters in each room. They had these cute wreaths with their letters at the bottom and their names in sparkly letters. A DIY wreath would be a really cute dorm room decor to give as a graduation gift!

Excited for the holidays, I’m checking my supply list twice and heading straight off to the craft store to gather supplies for a few different DIY Christmas wreath ideas. I need to make at least two to cover the whole season. I can’t wait to learn how to make a wreath for every single one of my doors!

11 DIY Christmas Wreaths to be Jolly About

Ho Ho Ho Wreath

Ornament Wreath Video

Walnut Wreath

Fancy Feathers Wreath

Yarn Snowball Wreath

Red Green and White Christmas Berry Wreath

Joyful Ornament Wreath and Sign

Candy Cane Wreath

Light Up Frosted Glass Ball Wreath

Winter Willow Wreath

What do you use for outdoor decorations?

DIY Wreath: How To Make a Weatherproof Fabric Wreath

April 27, 2015 by Roberta Birnbaum 3 Comments

Would you believe I have never had a wreath on my door? Well I figured it was about time to have one, and the best part is that it is a weatherproof fabric wreath.

Using Powertex®, which is a fabric hardener, allows me to work with fabric, sculpt it however I like and then place it outside if I desire.

Materials:

Fabric, cut into strips
Powertex® Fabric Hardener: red, yellow, green, blueish-grey, transparent
Powertex® Colortrix: red pearl, bronze gold, pearl
ZipDry™
Sphagnum moss
Raffia
Powertex® Easy Varnish
Embellishments
Wreath form and hanger 12″ diameter
Americana® brushes, trays for paint
Westcott Titanium scissors
Disposable gloves
Skewers

You are going to need at least 60strips of fabric for a 12″ diameter wreath. This is allowing for adding other objects to the circle. Different fabrics will absorb the Powertex differently, and therefore add interest to the project. I used 100% cotton t-shirt, cotton apron with lace, and a floral pillowcase.

Roberta Birnbaum Powertex Fabric Wreath for Spring

The t-shirt strips are 1 1/2 ” by 8″.

The other fabric strips are 1″ by 8″.

How to cut strips (the easy way)

Usually if you are cutting a t-shirt, you will only want to get a Men’s XL or bigger. (better value). Cut off the sleeves and all fabric above the armpits.

I am going to show you how to cut strips using a pillowcase because it is essentially the same thing.

Cut off the hem around the top of the pillowcase.
Fold in half lengthwise, but leave 1/4 inch exposed. (Figure 1)
With your scissors, starting at the fold, cut across to the folded material and stop just before you reach the other fold. This ensures all the strips stay together. (Figure 2)
Unfold strips to reveal the longer strips. (Figure 3)
Cut off any seams or stitching. Then cut and separate your strips.

Instructions:

Plan out your wreath. Decide on the placement of your fabrics and colors. I actually attached all the fabric in a ‘dry run'(and then untied all of them). I don’t necessarily recommend you do that because it is time-consuming, but I found that it was very helpful to me. Drawing a sketch is also very helpful.

Put on your gloves. Paint base with a solid color. I used green and painted both the front and back. The ensures that my entire base is sealed and protected. Let it dry.
Make sure you work on a non-stick surface. Powertex will not stick to craft mats, plastic, or aluminium.
Fill separate shallow trays with red, yellow, and green.
Dip your strips into the various colors and create different color combinations. I achieved the beautiful red/coral/pink hues by playing around with the red, yellow and transparent colors. Remove excess paint from each strip and then tie it onto the wreath.
Using skewers you can manipulate the wet fabric into any shape.
I grabbed a handful of the moss and dipped it into the yellow powertex and then stuck it to the wreath ( Powertex bonds).
Add various embellishments. Attach raffia with the glue to the back of the wreath.
Once the wreath is dry, dry brush with Colortrix and varnish. You can dip the end of your brush into the varnish and then dip it into the Colortrix, picking up the powder on your bristles. Blend on a plate and then brush. Let the wreath cure for at least 4 days before you put it outside.

Have you ever made a wreath?

Follow FaveCrafts’s board DIY Wreaths for All Seasons on Pinterest.

Tying the Knot: 16 Rope Crafts Ideas

August 20, 2014 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

Ah yes, the versatile rope. From cowboys to sailors, everybody knows the importance and many uses of our friend the rope. Ropes can be nautical. Ropes can be rustic. With a simple crafting rope, you can make fun outdoor decorations, fashionable bracelets, and simple dog toys.

There are so many different styles and colors, that you can hardly find two ropes that are exactly the same. Each DIY rope craft in this collection will inspire you to think outside the box when it comes to creating with ropes.

Whether it be spring, summer, fall, or winter, there are tons of crafts with rope that you can make to spruce up the home. Take it from me, these crafts using rope are “knot” as hard as you think (Hello? Is this thing on?).

To demonstrate my love for all things ropey, I have written a poem to commemorate one of our favorite craft inspirations. (Clears throat.)

“An Ode to the Rope”

When someone hands me a string,
I sigh at such a thing.
But I regain my hope
When I am handed a rope.
With ropes, we can climb mountains
Or erect buildings and fountains.
Knots are also important in life
For they unite a man with a wife.
But with these rope crafts for home décor,
You will see ropes can do these things and more.

In all seriousness, these rope crafts ideas are wonderful, no matter what your age, style, or crafting experience. If you want to start preparing for the holiday season, you can make a Mirror Christmas Box. If outdoor lounging is more your style, create a DIY Hammock Chair and relax in the roped lap of luxury. We can’t wait to see how ropes will inspire us next!

16 Rope Crafts Ideas

If you’re into nautical ropes and knots, you won’t want to miss our blog post Set Sail in Style with 11 Nautical Necklace Patterns

What’s your favorite kind of knot?

Ready, Set, Craft!

January 28, 2014 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts Leave a Comment

Why let the sporting world have all the fun? In honor of the many impending sporting events, AllFreeChristmasCrafts decided to throw a little craft-athon ourselves. We’ve picked a few of our most popular wreath crafts, homemade Christmas ornaments, and more, to go head to head. In order to vote, all you’ll need to do is comment below. We’ve got just one question for you: which craft do you think should take the gold?

Round 1: Wreath Crafts

Wreaths are one of the easiest ways to decorate during any holiday or season. You can hang them on your front door to welcome your guests or even on a wall in your home to add a splash of color or holiday spirit. Here are four heavy-weight contenders looking for that number one spot.

Round 2: Ornament Crafts

Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without ornaments hung on a tree. As everybody knows, handmade is the way to go. We’ve gathered a few of our favorite DIY Christmas ornaments to go toe-to-toe. Check out the ornament crafts below:

Round 3: DIY Snow Globes

There’s something magical about a snow globe, like a little winter wonderland in a jar. These DIY snow globes prove that you don’t need to spend a bunch of money to get snow globes that look like they’re straight from a store. Which snow globe do you like best?

Round 4: Lighting Ideas

Nothing quite sets a calm and cozy ambiance like a lantern, votive, luminary, or candle. Turn out the lights, spread them throughout your house, and you’re all set. Here are some of the most popular DIY lighting solutions, which one will you vote for?

Let the craft-athon voting begin! Just comment below on which craft you think is best in each category. Ready, set, craft!

How to Plan the Perfect Party

September 9, 2013 by AllFreeHolidayCrafts Leave a Comment

Over at AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com we know that you can always find an excuse to through a fabulous party! Parties give us the perfect opportunity to go absolutely craft crazy, which is why we love this party guide: Plan the Perfect Party: 20 Party Crafts. We’re sure that with this list of party crafts, you’ll throw the best bash ever. You can make your own party decor, craft your own cupcake toppers, mix your own beverages and prepare your own party recipes. Your entire party will be crafted by you, giving it a more personal feel. Guests will be impressed and you can thank our guide Plan the Perfect Party: 20 Party Crafts for that!

Scrumptious Party Recipes

What’s a party without good food? It’s essential that the food is perfect at your next party. Whether you’re looking for appetizer ideas, dessert recipes, or something simply divine to sip on, Plan the Perfect Party: 20 Party Crafts brings you delicious treats to choose from that you’ll surely love. The Anytime Appetizer is perfect for, well, any time! It’s cool and refreshing and it gets the party off to a great start. If your party has a theme, you may want to try special recipes like this Cake Caterpillar or the Beachy Pie. If your food goes right, it doesn’t matter what goes wrong. Good food means a good time.

Perfect Party Crafts

Between your outfit, the food, and the decor, your party can get very expensive very quickly. These p

arty craft ideas will cut the cost and increase the fun. Your party will look fabulous with this Chrysanthemum Hanging Party Decoration hanging from the ceiling and guests won’t refuse a beverage when it’s served on this Chic Tufted Serving Tray. Little handmade details will make the world of a difference at your party. Not only will your party be one of a kind, it will be inexpensive, impressive, and altogether unforgettable.

With a little bit of guidance and a lot of creativity, this Plan the Perfect Party: 20 Party Crafts guide will help your party run smoothly. No matter what season, holiday, or occasion, there’s always a reason to throw a big ol’ bash!

Which craft will be the life of your party?

Get Back to the Outdoors with Nature-Inspired Crafts

April 10, 2013 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts Leave a Comment

Do you miss seeing green grass and hearing birds chirp? Winter’s on its way out, but if you want to get a head start on welcoming back spring, the answer is closer than you might think. The editors at AllFreeChristmasCrafts have had all winter to find ways to help you, and now, we’re excited to share some nature-inspired crafts that will brighten up your home with freshness and color.

Homemade Wreaths

Wreath crafts are popular for any time of year, and they can easily bring a touch of color to your door. You can make something more abstract, like a Bird’s Nest Wreath, which is durable enough to last all year, reminding you of springtime no matter what time of year it is. You can also learn how to make a wreath using actual nature like with this Boxwood Berry Wreath. The design is festive for winter, but green enough for spring. If you don’t want to use real materials, but still want a realistic design, there are also colorful alternatives like those used in the Festive Nature Wreath.

Crafting with Pine Cones

There are many different natural materials that you can use in your nature inspired crafting, and we’ve found a common trend amongst crafters already existing. Pine cones are popular because they’re strong, have a unique shape, and can hold a whole array of craft materials. Christmas characters like the Felt Pine Cone Snowman Ornament, as well as other winter craft creatures like the Nature Inspired Holiday Skier, come to life very easily with the addition of fabric. Pine cones can also make for rustic decorations like the Rustic Pine Cone Light Basket for your home that you can touch up with a nice scent to make your guests feel relaxed and welcome.

Projects for Animal Lovers

You don’t have to use nature in all of your nature-inspired crafts. Animal lovers know that instead, you can create a craft inspired by one of your favorite forest creatures. You can make a frame like the Wintertime Bird Frame or the Rustic Nature Frame that really put your design skills to the test. If you’re looking for something more 3D, you can recycle your toilet paper rolls to make a Toilet Role Yule Log Ornament or use real nature to make an Acorn Nest Ornament that help your home to feel more realistically nature inspired.

No matter what time of year it is, nature-inspired crafts are a surefire way to give your home the essence of the outdoors. Use the beauty around you as inspiration (and part) of your next craft project and enjoy the freshness these crafts bring to your home decor.

How do you include nature in your crafting?

Kanzashi Flower Home Decor: National Craft Month Project & Giveaway

March 15, 2013 by FaveCrafts 642 Comments

We’ve reached day 15 of the National Craft Month Giveaway. We hope you are visiting our blog every day, because you don’t want to miss out on entering to win a different prize of the day. Find the contest rules and enter below.

Today’s National Craft Month project comes from our friends at Clover, some Kanzashi Flower Home Decor, is a really unique one. Fans of crafting with fabric will really enjoy working on this wreath craft, and the blend of rustic and floral materials guarantees this will be a spring decoration you’ll want to hang in your home.

Kanzashi Flower Home Decor

Put the perfect finishing touch on your spring home decor with the full tutorial for this homemade wreath. This projected provided by Clover not only gives you the proper steps to take, but also shows you some great products that you can use to make this homemade decoration even faster.

This pattern is included in our free eBook, The Ultimate Craft Guide: 25 Free Craft Projects for Every Crafter. Celebrate National Craft Month with us by crafting the great projects in this free downloadable eBook written just for you!

ENTER TO WIN TODAY’S PRIZES

Today’s prizes are All styles of extra SM Kanzashi Flower Makers, a Wonder Clips 10 pack, Patch work scissors, & needles. In order to win today’s prizes, all you need to do is:

* Like the AllFreeSewing Facebook page here, AND

* Like the Clover USA Faceboook page here, AND

*Leave a comment on this blog post below telling us:

What would you create with the Kanzashi flowers?

OFFICIAL RULES FOR DAILY CONTEST

There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
You must “like” both the AllFreeSewing and the Clover USA to be eligible.
Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post below.
Winner will be announced here on the blog tomorrow as well as contacted by the email address provided.
You have until tonight, March, 15 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment on this post. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.

SUPER BONUS – WIN $1000 Gift Card!

Don’t miss your chance to stock up your craft stash and win a $1000 Michael’s gift card. You can enter each day to win this amazing $1000 Shopping Spree at Michaels. Keep coming back to the FaveCrafts blog each day for a new prize as well. You have 17 days to enter.

Good Luck!

Link Love: Wreaths You’ll Fall in Love With!

August 16, 2012 by FaveCrafts 1 Comment

Even though there are still a few days of summer left, there’s no denying that autumn is approaching. There’s a chill in the air, the rainy days have returned, and most importantly, the stores are stocking up on Halloween candy!

One of my favorite things about fall is decorating for the season. I love the warm colors and the smell of fresh cinnamon, clove, pine, and fire. When it comes to fall decorations, a great place to start is creating a seasonal wreath. Since visitors are in abundance during the fall, having a beautiful wreath on your door is a great way to greet family and friends for Halloween and Thanksgiving.

I love this Circle of Autumn Wreath. This is a project that truly sparkles and it looks easy and fun to make. I love how the leaves look with that fun and snazzy glitter coat.

I’m also a big fan of using recycled materials, so I was sure to bookmark this Pretty Paper Wreath when I saw it. What this wreath lacks in color, it makes up for in design. You could also use newspaper to achieve a similar look, or cut up an old paper bag if you want it to look like burlap.

Finally, this Colorful Fall Wreath is perfect for the thrifty crafter. You could easily make this wreath out of items you’d find at the dollar store, so you can get the look you love for pennies on the dollar. That’s my kind of crafting!

Want more fall wreath ideas? Check out our collection of 19 Decorative Front Door Wreaths for Fall!

We’re not the only ones who are ready to start decorating with leaves and pumpkins. Here are a few other fall wreaths from bloggers all over the Web.

Fall Wreath with Burlap from Sweet Passions on a Thrifty Dime
Fall Pom Pom Wreath from Nature’s Heirloom
Fall Rag Wreath from Cassie & Co.
Free Spirit Fall Wreath from Positively Spendid
Welcome Fall Wreath from Miss Lovie Creations
Fall Wreath from Every Creative Endeavor
Yarn Wreath from Home Stories A to Z
Rolled Burlap and Rosette Fall Wreath from Just Sew Sassy
Fall Wreath with Felt Rosette Flowers from Crafting Mom

Cinema Saturdays: How to Make a Fall Wreath

August 4, 2012 by AllFreeHolidayCrafts Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for an elegant addition to your fall decor for the upcoming holiday season, watch this tutorial to learn to make your very own fall wreath. Rather than spending your money on a store-bought wreath, try your hand at a project that uses cheap and accessible items that you may already have in your home. Decorative wreaths are a huge hit this holiday season, so join in the crafting fun with this intricate design that’s much less difficult to make than it looks (your guests will never know!). The editors here at AllFreeHolidayCrafts want to help make your fall decorations stand out, and this wreath is the perfect touch.

How to Make a Fall Wreath:

What do you think is the most popular fall craft this year? Whether it’s a wreath or uses a leaf, we’d love to know, so comment below.

7 Easy Ideas for a Homemade Christmas

October 28, 2011 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts 4 Comments

Raise your hand if you’re already crafting for Christmas! Okay, you probably can’t see my outstretched arm, but believe me it’s raised. Now, as someone who’s relatively new to crafting, I have to admit I was a bit daunted by the thought of making my own Christmas decorations this year. But as I started looking at different projects online, I quickly discovered that Christmas is actually a perfect time for craft newbies because there are TONS of easy Christmas craft ideas. Seriously, tons!

Since there are now less than two months until Santa comes to town (crazy, huh?), I decided to round up my top 7 favorite easy Christmas crafts and share them with all of you. I’ve put together a brand new eBook so you can keep all of these craft instructions handy to work on now or later. You can download the eBook for FREE right here.

I really loved the ornaments and wreath that were made out of toilet paper rolls. I mean how clever is that? To turn recycled cardboard into something as cool as this:

And this:

I’m seriously impressed.

Homemade Christmas decorations give your house a touch of personal charm during the holidays, and they also help you save some cash (and we could all use that around Christmastime, now couldn’t we?). All of the projects that I included in this free Christmas craft eBook are simple to make, so they don’t require a bunch of supplies. Which means that you’ll be able to make fabulous, festive Christmas decor without breaking the bank. Now I’d call that a merry Christmas!

I could go on and on about the projects in this awesome new eBook, but that would just take away precious crafting time and I definitely don’t want to do that! So don’t waste another minute… Christmas is right around the corner and you’ll want enough time to make all of the seven cool projects in this collection. Trust me, I loved all of these crafts so much that I couldn’t skip one. So every weekend between now and December 25th you know where you’ll find me… in my crafting room!

Download the 7 Easy DIY Christmas Crafts: Make Your Own Ornaments, Wreaths and More! eBook today!

Happy crafting and Merry (early) Christmas!

11 DIY Christmas Wreaths to be Jolly About

What do you use for outdoor decorations?

Materials:

How to cut strips (the easy way)

Instructions:

Have you ever made a wreath?

16 Rope Crafts Ideas

What’s your favorite kind of knot?

Round 1: Wreath Crafts

Round 2: Ornament Crafts

Round 3: DIY Snow Globes

Round 4: Lighting Ideas

Let the craft-athon voting begin! Just comment below on which craft you think is best in each category. Ready, set, craft!

Which craft will be the life of your party?

Homemade Wreaths

Crafting with Pine Cones

Projects for Animal Lovers

How do you include nature in your crafting?

What would you create with the Kanzashi flowers?

How to Make a Fall Wreath:

What do you think is the most popular fall craft this year? Whether it’s a wreath or uses a leaf, we’d love to know, so comment below.

Question: What are your favorite crafts to make during the Christmas season?

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

Thrifty